Hydro Power Coming For Astoria

Astoria may soon be in the power business. At tonight's council meeting city staff will ask to move forward on a grant-funded hydroelectric project that will generate power for the city watershed with excess generation sold to Pacificorp. The project, designed to be installed at the Bear Creek dam is projected to generate just under 155-thousand Kwh annually. A staff report states that the water treatment plant would use 90,000 to 100,000 Kwh each year, The excess power would be sold back to Pacific Power under a separate agreement the council will consider tonight. The project is estimated to cost $322,000 and the city has secured $143,000 from Energy Trust Oregon, $169,000 from Pacific Power Blue Sky Program, and a $87,600 loan from the Infrastructure Finance Authority for a total of $399,600 to cover costs and contingency. The city stands to save about $90,000 a year in power costs for the operation of the water treatment facility. The City Council meets tonight at 7 pm.